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Courses

MAS.750 Human-Robot Interaction
Prereq: Permission of instructor
2-0-7 H-LEVEL Grad Credit

In-depth exploration of the leading research, design principles, and technical challenges in Human-Robot Interaction (HRI), with an emphasis on socially interactive robots. Topics include mixed-initiative interaction, multi-modal interfaces, face-to-face communication, human-robot teamwork, social learning, aspects of social cognition, and long-term interaction. Applications of the above to the development of personal robots for health, education, eldercare, domestic assistance, and other domains will be surveyed. Requires student presentations, critiques of class readings, student projects, and a final project including a publication quality paper.

C. Breazeal

MAS.962 Autism Theory and Technology
Prereq: Permission of instructor
2-0-10 H-LEVEL Grad Credit

This course illuminates current theories about autism together with challenges faced by people on the autism spectrum in communicating, in interacting socially, in managing cognitive and affective overload, and in achieving independent lifestyles. In parallel, the course presents state-of-the-art technologies being developed for helping improve both theoretical understanding and practical outcomes. Participants
will be expected to meet and interact with people on the autism spectrum. Weekly reading, discussion, and a term project are required. Enrollment limited.

R. Picard, C. Breazeal, S. Turkle

MAS.S61 Design and Deployment of Playful Learning Technologies
Prereq: Permission of Instructor
2-2-8 H-LEVEL Grad Credit

Approximately 200 million children in the world today are at risk of never learning to read at an adequate level. In this project-based class students will design, develop, deploy and evaluate playful interactive digital media to support learning — focusing on young at-risk children around the world. Lectures cover topics in the cognitive neuroscience for how the brain learns to read, curriculum principles, android app development and game design for tablet computers, and data collection, analysis, and evaluation methods. This is a good chance to test your weird, funny, and joyful game ideas in support of learning. Vetted games with substantial design around learning will be deployed in ongoing global deployments.

C. Breazeal, T. Galyean, S. Gottwald (Tufts), R. Morris (GSU), M Wolf (Tufts)